Operations, Management & Future Park Development

Updated March 26, 2024: As of Dec. 14, 2023, the County will be the long-term owner and manager of the Park while the City continues to provide recreation programming at Marshall Mountain Park; under this proposal, the County and City would share the operational costs of providing public access at the site. Commissioners signed the close-out documents to complete the purchase of this park on March 26, 2024.

If the area is publicly owned, an initial site cleanup will be required to ensure the safety of all users. There will be no immediate changes to current user access or policies. The development of future policies regarding users, management and permits will occur after the acquisition is completed in 2024.

The Marshall Mountain Park conceptual master plan provides a roadmap for the City of Missoula, Missoula County, and other partnering organizations to expand accessibility and programming opportunities at Marshall Mountain to meet the community's needs while conserving important natural resources onsite. Adoption of this plan does not mean that all aspects of the conceptual master plan would be implemented. The conceptual master plan will assist everyone in making informed decisions for investments in park experiences, facilities, conservation and programming.

The plan is flexible to accommodate phased implementation based on available funding. It will inform decisions about the park alongside grant requirements, regulations, infrastructure needs, program development, partnerships and funding availability. In addition, the plan showcases our community's dedication to protecting public access and preserving natural resources at Marshall Mountain. Once acquired, the City and County will make immediate improvements to open the park for public use, and we will explore additional enhancements through fundraising, partnerships, and grants.

The conceptual master plan is available for review and comment at engagemissoula.com, where the public can also find additional information on the community visioning process that informed the creation of the plan.

Visit the City of Missoula's Engage Missoula page for supporting documents and links.